Venezuela to get nuclear energy help from Russia

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez boasted on state television that his country will develop a nuclear energy program with the help of Russia. The agreement apparently came about during a meeting last week in Moscow between Chavez and Vladimir Putin, and Chavez states that Venezuela doesn’t seek an atomic bomb “so don’t bother us like Iran.”

As with Iran, the peaceful pursuit of nuclear energy isn’t a bad thing by itself – indeed, nuclear technology can help ease global dependence on fossil fuels, and it might be nice if this country looked closer at developing more plants. What the deal truly symbolizes, however, is the growing partnership between Russia and Venezuela, and a desire by the former Soviet Union to have a greater influence in the Western Hemisphere.

I’m sure the Obama Administration isn’t troubled in the slightest by that desire, but it worries me slightly. Russia doesn’t have a great track record of supporting friendly and stable states (see: Iran), and an increased Russian presence in South America and the Caribbean may create conditions similar to those that prefaced the Cuban Missile Crisis. There’s no yearning for the Monroe Doctrine here, just a recognition that Russia doesn’t have America’s best interests in mind, and a stronger Russian influence doesn’t bode particularly well for that of the United States.

And of course, while it’s far too premature to accuse Chavez of wanting to seek an atomic bomb, there does remain that possibility. Until I see indications otherwise, I’ll take Chavez at his word (which may be a mistake), but there’s no doubt that a nuclear-armed Venezuela would be a drastic threat to South American stability as well as the interests of the United States. Let’s hope it doesn’t go that route.

You are correct, Russia’s track record is quite bad, but under Putin it was much better than under Bush. Putin never invaded any countries, Bush, well you know the rest of the story. Let’s facts, Russia and Venezuela are sovereign counties and can make treaties without the consent of the US. Maybe if we stopped meddling in other countries business and focused more at home, our economy wouldn’t be going down the toilet. Just thought.

I think you’re misunderstanding me. Of course nations can come to agreements and treaties with each other, particularly on nuclear energy, and the US doesn’t need to “sign off” on them. My larger point has to do with the effect an increased Russian presence in the Western Hemisphere will have on American interests. And there’s always the chance, whatever remote, that Chavez is seeking something beyond nuclear energy, but until then it’s perfectly fine by me to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful means.

Bringing up Bush is a pretty big non sequitur as far as I’m concerned. So since the last President made some poor foreign policy decisions, America must now turn a willfully blind eye to what’s happening in the world and offer no opinion on it? I don’t buy that.